NAIROBI, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed police officers to exercise restraint and use minimal force during the planned June 25 demonstrations while warning that criminal elements who infiltrate the protests will face decisive action.
Speaking during a television interview on Monday, Murkomen said the government remains committed to protecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly but will not tolerate violence, looting, or destruction of property.
He revealed that security agencies have been instructed to deal firmly with individuals who exploit demonstrations to engage in criminal activities.
“We have no mechanism in the government of Kenya or the police service to establish a goon who is friendly to the police. All of them must be dealt with decisively,” Murkomen said.
Call for Constitutional Policing
The Interior CS said he had directed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to remind officers of constitutional provisions governing the use of force.
According to Murkomen, law enforcement officers must prioritise the protection of life and avoid unnecessary fatalities even when confronted with unlawful conduct.
He stressed that policing operations during the demonstrations should be guided by professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights.
The remarks come amid heightened public scrutiny of police conduct following deaths and injuries reported during previous anti-government protests.
Government Rules Out Media Shutdown
Murkomen also dismissed speculation that the government could shut down media houses during the demonstrations.
He described the media as a key partner in promoting democracy and informed public discourse.
“The media is a partner of the government and the people of Kenya in advancing democracy,” he said.
However, he urged journalists and social media users to exercise caution and avoid inflammatory statements that could escalate tensions or contribute to unrest.
Appeal for Coordination
The Cabinet Secretary called on protest organisers to work closely with police to facilitate orderly demonstrations and ensure public safety.
The nationwide protests are scheduled for Thursday, June 25, and are expected to commemorate the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z-led anti-Finance Bill protests.
In Nairobi, organisers have announced plans to march to Parliament Buildings to lay flowers in memory of those who died during the 2024 demonstrations.
Civil society organisations, victims’ families and activists have indicated that the protests will focus on remembrance, accountability and calls for justice over allegations of police brutality, enforced disappearances and abductions reported in the aftermath of the protests.
The demonstrations are expected to test the government’s commitment to balancing public order with constitutional freedoms, including the rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and media freedom guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya.
